Diaphragm for car-vestibules or the like.



No. 767,802. PATENTBD- AUG. 16, 1904.

J. H. DONALDSON &: H. H. SGHROYER. DIAPHRAGM FOR GAR VESTIBULBS OR THE LIKE.

APPLIOATIOK FILED MAR. 14, 1903.

H0 MODEL.

' lfQ/WM No. 767,802. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904. J. H. DONALDSON a H. H. SGHROYER. DIAPHRAGM FOR GAR VESTIBULES OR THE LIKE.

APPLIOATIOH PILED MAB. I4, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R0 MODEL.

I IZ L E- J Z WW Ear/y 1?. air-a e 3 m U ITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H DONALDSON AND HARRY H. SCHROYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DIAPHRAGM FOR CAR-VESTIBULES ORII'HE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,802, dated August -16, 1904,

Application filed March 14, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J AMES H. DONALDSON and HARRYH. SoHRoYER, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Diaphragms for 'Car-Vestibules or the Like; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in diaphragms for car-vestibules or the like, and is shown more particularly embodiedin acardiaphragm of the Gould type or a vestibule in which is provided an inner and an outer diaphragm separated by an intervening space. The object of the invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and durable construction of a great strength and little weight so constructed as to be lightly affected by wear and to be practically self sustaining and supporting.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View, partly broken,of a car-vestibule and diaphragm embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of our device. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken through one of the diaphragm-legs. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through a vestibule provided with diaphragms embodying our invention. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating attachment of the diaphragm with the face-plate. Fig. 7 is a section of a modified form of the diaphragm.

As shown in said drawings, A indicates the diaphragm face-plates of the ordinary or any desired type.

B indicates the vestibule face-plates, and A the diaphragm face-plates, between and to which the sides of the diaphragm are attached. As shown, an outer diaphragm C and an inner, C, are used in a manner similar to the Gould construction, and which, as shown, are

Serial No. 1 17,2350. (N0 model.)

rigidly attached upon the vestibule face-plate and diaphragm face-plate near their outer and their inner margins and form an inner and an outer covering for the supporting mechanism for the diaphragm face-plate. (Not herein shown.) Said outer and inner diaphragms are each constructed of a plurality of relatively narrow strips of comparatively lightfabric such as two-ply canvas, duck, or the like which may be given a special treatment to render the same weather and fire proof, if preferred. Said strips are folded longitudinally and centrally, as shown in Figs. 3, 6, and 7 to provide the divergent sides 0 0, each of which near its margin is rigidly secured by riveting, sewing, or other preferred means to the adjacent side of the next adjacent strip, as shown in Fig. 3. Obviously any desired number of folds may be used to provide a width of material sufficient to permit the necessary movement in the diaphragm face-plate. When said diaphragms are completed, they are secured upon the face-plate and the vestibule face-plate with the seams of the outer directed inwardly, while the seam of the corresponding or inner diaphragm is turned outwardly, thus insuring that no seams are exposed to the action of the weather and subject to wear in the vestibule. If preferred, the integral outer bend may be also sewed or riveted.

For the purpose of providing a stay to support the top of the diaphragm a rod of wire (indicated by D and'D', respectively) may be secured in the integral fold of each diaphragm, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, and may extend over the top of the diaphragm and downwardly along the legs thereof to any desired distance, thus forming a rigid support for the top of both the inner and the outer diaphragm above the vestibule and carrying the weight thereof to the diaphragm-legs. Obviously, if preferred, said rods may extend downwardly for the entire length of the diaphragm-legs. Usually, however, the same is not necessary, the rigidity of the fabric being suflicient.

The operation is as follows: The diaphragms constructed as described afford an -cars are uncoupled.

inner andv an outer shield, affording a double protection from the elements, the inner or riveted or sewed edges of the fabric being turned inwardly adjacent to each other out of possible contact and exposure and being permanently sewed, riveted, or otherwise secured together to afiord a tight seam. The outwardly-directed exposed bends of each diaphragm are integral, thus preventing injury from atmospheric or other causes from without and presenting a smooth surface within the vestibule, pleasing to the eye and not likely to injure the clothing or catch dirt. The stay-rods D and D of the outer and inner diaphragms, respectively, form positive supports for the tops of the diaphragms and act to hold the same in position at all times and are sufficiently small so as not to interfere with the folding of the diaphragm together when the cars are uncoupled. The width of said diaphragms when folded together is such as to leave a considerable space between the inwardly-adjacent edges of the same, in which is contained the means for supporting the diaphragm face-plate when the The construction as shown may be made of ordinary cotton canvas, duck. or other light material and is inexpensive and durable.

Obviously many details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles of this invention.

We claim as our invention 1. A double-walled diaphragm for the purpose specified comprising a plurality of narrow strips folded longitudinally and centrally and having the free edges thereof secured edge to edge with like strips, thereby forming parallel accordion-plaits each having the selvage edges of the strips turned inwardly of the diaphragm.

2. In a car-vestibule, the combination with the vestibule face-plate, of an outer and inner diaphragm-wall, said diaphragm-walls being each composed of a plurality of strips, of relatively light fabric folded longitudinally near the center and with the selvage edges 3. In a car-vestibule diaphragm, the combination with the diaphragm face-plate and the vestibule face-plate, of an inner and an outer diaphragm engaged on corresponding edges of said plates and composed each of a plurality of relatively narrow strips of fabric folded longitudinally to provide an accordionplait and having the selvage edges rigidly secured to the like edge of the adjacent strips, the selvage edges of each diaphragm being located adjacent to each other and providing a relatively wide space between the same.

4. In a device of the class described, an inner and an outer diaphragm formed of a plurality of relatively narrow strips of fabric folded longitudinally and centrally and having the edges thereof rigidly secured in a closed seam with the adjacent edges of like strips, the outer diaphragm having the low or selvage edges thereof turned inwardly and the inner diaphragm having the selvage edges turned outwardly of the vestibule, a stay permanently secured in the integral folds of one of said diaphragms and said diaphragms being of such width as to provide a relatively wide space between the selvage edges of the same.

5. In a car-vestibule, a double diaphragm each comprising accordion plaits or folds having on the outer side thereof integral bends and on the inner side thereof selvage edges rigidlyasecured together to provide a tight seam and a stay band or rod in each diaphragm permanently inclosed in one of said folds and acting to partly support the diaphragm.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. DONALDSON. HARRY H. SOHRO YER. I/Vitnesses:

G. W. HILLS, A. C. ODELL. 

